The Covenant: The 10 Commandments



The Covenant

Ten Commandments

Created by the Spirit

Connection to the yearly theme: The Covenant made with Moses can guide our every action. The Lord established the covenant with all people. “The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the Lord make this covenant, but with us, who are all here alive today.” Deuteronomy 5:2.

Scripture: Exodus 19:4-5; 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4; Micah 6:8

Objective:

• To help the children better understand The Ten Commandments as a response to God’s choosing us as His people and as a promise to live as God intended.

Overview:

• Hear the story of the receiving of the

Ten Commandments.

• Help the children understand what each commandment means and how following each one is a response to God’s love and covenant with us

• Create a Ten Commandments Mobile as a lasting reminder of the promises we intend to keep with God.

You will be making a mobile consisting of 3 shapes each representative of a part of the Ten Commandments scripture. The top shape represents the bible, the written word of God. Here the students will write the first 2 verses of Exodus 20. They proclaim God’s covenant with us as God’s chosen people. The middle shape represents the eye of God. The first 4 commandments are written here. They speak to our direct relationship with God, an “eye to eye” connection. The Bottom shape symbolizes the world and the human community. The last 6 commandments that speak to our relationships with each other are written here.

SUPPLIES:

Patterns for each folded section (provided)

Examples of mobiles created by well-known artists such as Alexander Calder. You can go to any art museum’s website to find source materials or pictures of mobiles.

For Each Child:

3 sheets of white student grade watercolor paper or smooth finish 80-100 lb. Card stock

1-11x16 for shape 3

1-12x12 for shape 2

1-6x8 for shape 1

1 set of watercolors (pan type)

Round pointed paintbrushes for watercolor (multiple sizes)

1 fine point black sharpie or other permanent fine point marker

1 bowl or jar for water

1 needle and plastic thread or other strong thread for hanging

1 paper clip or suitable hook for hanging

Notes to the Teacher:

It will be necessary to do some advance preparation each week. (see folding and cutting instructions on page 6) You will also want to make a mobile in advance to better familiarize yourself with the process and to have a finished example for the children to see.

Set up 3 stations in your classroom, one for each shape. Copy the words (found on pages 3-4) for each shape onto a large piece of paper and tape it to the table so that it can be easily referred to. This will help younger children who are not as proficient at writing “copy” the words more easily. As the children finish one shape, provide a place for it to dry while they work on the next. It is also helpful to have extra hands with younger students. Asking for extra adult help on those days you have a younger group, will help the lesson go more smoothly. Consider introducing the lesson and letting the children begin to work as you continue sharing information. Remember to keep track of time, making sure all students are on schedule and can finish in time.

Background for Lesson

In the story of the receiving of the Ten Commandments, Moses is on the mountain with God. Can you imagine such an experience? The scriptures say that Moses never really sees the face of God but knows in his heart that this is Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe. Moses had to convince the people that he knew God and that God had indeed communicated directly with him. Moses knew in his heart that he had encountered God. This made it possible for Moses to do something that he really didn’t want to do – go and face the Pharaoh. Each time Moses requested that the people be released from bondage, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Eventually after nine terrible plagues the Pharaoh’s heart was still hard against the Israelites. God sent the angel of death to kill the first born sons in each household. Those Israelites who had followed Moses’ instructions and painted their doorposts with lamb’s blood were spared. With the death of his son, Pharaoh released the Israelites.

Freedom felt so good until the hot desert sun beat down upon them. They whined and cried about the homes they had left in Egypt. God had heard their cries and released them to what – certain death in the desert? Moses appealed to God and God responded providing water and food for them. When they reached the foot of Mt. Sinai they stopped and made a rather permanent camp. God asked Moses to come up the mountain so Moses could be instructed in the ways of the Lord. The Lord told Moses:

“Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of the peoples. Indeed the whole earth is mine, but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.” Exodus 19: 3-6

Here God called the people into the first part of a covenant relationship. Their mutual history was established. This was the God of their ancestors, the God who brought them out of Egypt, the God who chose them from out of all the nations.

Moses returns to the camp and tells everyone to prepare for a holy ceremony. On the third day Moses goes up the mountain and receives the Ten Commandments.

Along with these Ten Commandments were many other rules governing the fair treatment of slaves, proper worship, priestly vestments, the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant and such. “When god finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, the Lord gave Moses the two tablets of the covenant, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

When Moses went down the mountain after several days he found that the Israelites who had been waiting for him had gotten restless. They were impatient for a God to worship. They gathered all their jewels and gold and made a golden calf in the likeness of an Egyptian god. They were worshiping it when Moses came in to camp. One can only imagine his frustration and anger. When would the people live up to the choice God had made? In anger Moses threw the tablets on the ground and broke them. Moses was very disappointed and angry. How could they commit such a sin? The next day Moses went back up the mountain and pleaded with God that there would be no vengeance upon the Israelite people. God did not punish them but instead wrote two new tablets that the Israelites might know the ways of the Lord.

Today it is important that we “know the ways of the Lord” and know that the covenant God made with the Israelites is our covenant too. God chose them and did not give up on them even though they were not faithful. Likewise God does not abandon us when we fall short. Knowing that God’s grace comes first allows us to respond to that grace by living these commandments. We can view the Ten Commandments not only as God’s requirements of us but as God’s promises to us for if we all keep these commandments God promises there will be no more stealing, coveting etc.

Beginning then, with Exodus 20:1-2

And God spoke all these words:

”I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt,

Out of the land of slavery.”

God is proclaiming his covenant with us as his chosen people. He has acted in our behalf (Exodus 19:4-5) and now we can look at these Ten Commandments not as rules we need to follow to be God’s chosen for we already are but a way to live the lifestyle of a holy nation. Grace comes first. Living these commandments is our response to that grace.

Moving to the next 7 verses (written here in a simple form the children can better understand and copy)

1.You will have no other gods before me.

2.You will not make idols to worship.

3.You will not take the name of the lord your God in vain.

4.Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

These first four commandments help us respond directly to God. What does each commandment say to you? Now that you know these commandments how will your relationship with God change?

5. Honor your father and mother.

6. You will not kill.

7.You will honor your marriage.

8. You will not steal.

9. You will not lie.

10.You will not covet.

The last six commandments teach us how to respond to each other. If you notice, these six commandments speak of how we should act, not how we have acted (Exodus 19: 3-6). Just as a promise speaks to future events, so these “promises” speak of our own future. Now that we know them we can live as though the future is now, as though we really are God’s people. How do these commandments help you live as one of God’s chosen people?

Over the centuries the Israelite people needed constant reminders of their Covenant with God. The prophets called the people back to their relationship with God. Jeremiah said that God would make a new covenant with the people. “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt – a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord! I will put my law within them and I will write it on their hearts and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The prophet Micah responded to the people’s questions about what God wanted them to do to be in a right relationship with the Lord. Micah’s answer was:

God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and

What does the Lord require of you,

But to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:8

As you begin to create the Ten Commandments Mobile, do not think of it as a list of rules, but instead, think of it as your reminder that you are God’s chosen. Just as the mobile moves when touched, God’s grace touches you and helps you move into a right relationship with God.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOBILE:

With this lesson you will find 2 pages of patterns for the three shapes. The pattern illustrates ¼ of each shape. If you change the size of the patterns it is important to enlarge all the shapes at the same percentage to maintain the size relationship already established. This will preserve the balance of the finished mobile.

As you explain the project to the children point out the connection between the words and the design of the shape as explained on page 1.

SHAPE 1 Verses for Shape 1

And God spoke all these words:

”I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt,

Out of the land of slavery.”

The first two verses of Exodus 20 are to be written with permanent marker on this shape. Write the words on after the folding process and encourage the children to use both sides (one verse per side) so that as the piece moves, words are always visible. Then let the children use watercolors to decorate. You can suggest a realistic approach or more abstract. Just encourage them to use their own creativity to further tell the story to anyone who will view their work.

SHAPE 2

Commandments for Shape 2

1.You will have no other gods before me.

2.You will not make idols to worship.

3.You will not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4.Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

The commandments that speak to our relationship with god are written here. Use the bands created after folding to print each commandment. Again encourage them to use all sides.

SHAPE 3

Commandments for Shape 3

5. Honor your father and mother.

6. You will not kill.

7.You will honor your marriage.

8. You will not steal.

9. You will not lie.

10.You will not covet.

The commandments that speak to our relationship with each other are written on this shape that symbolizes the world. What symbols can you think of to illustrate our community of faith?

PREPARING THE PATTERNS

Cut on the lines of the patterns, stopping where each line ends.

FOLDING AND CUTTING INSTRUCTIONS

(The following instructions apply to all three shapes.)

In advance, prepare each set, following the steps outlined below. For younger students complete step 4. For Third grade and up stop at Step 4a.

Step 1

With the paper in the vertical position, fold the paper in half horizontally, and in half again vertically.

Step 2

Notice that on the folded sides, one side has two folds

and one has one fold.

Position the pre-cut pattern on the folded paper using the guide at left.

Step 3

Trace the outside of the shape and then, lifting up each section, trace along the inside edges to transfer the inside lines onto the folded paper.

Step 4

a. Once you have transferred all the lines onto the shape,

you are ready to cut.

(stop advance preparation for third grade and up here)

b. Cut each shape out and then cut the inside lines making sure you stop short on the double folded side.

(stop advance preparation for younger students here)

FINAL FOLDING INSTRUCTIONS (to be completed in class)

Step 5

Now unfold once and turn so the fold remaining is facing you.

Step 6

Take hold of the outermost band and fold toward you creasing edges to help it lie flat.

Step 7

Flip the entire piece over. Now the fold is away from you.

Continuing to work from the outside, skip the first band and fold the next band up and crease.

Repeat step 7 until the

entire shape is folded.

Each of the commandments can be written on the separate bands. (See example on page 1.) Make sure to flip the shape and write some on the other side. Then there is something to see from every angle.

Encourage the children to paint the entire shape. The permanent marker should not be affected by painting watercolor over it. They may just want to paint a light wash of color or add decoration. There is no right or wrong way to do it!

The final step is to join the three shapes together. (This is where the help of a shepherd or additional teacher aids can prove invaluable)

Using a needle and thread, join the three shapes together (as show at left) by punching a hole in the top and bottom of shapes 1-2. Only one hole is needed at the top of shape 3. Tie together with string leaving space between for easy movement and a long enough string (complete with loop) at the top for hanging.

You could hang a clothesline and hang the finished mobiles with paperclips to let them dry. Suggest that the children wait till the following week to take them home.

MASTER PATTERNS

Cut all lines, stopping where each line ends.

Shape 1

Shape 3

MASTER PATTERNS

Cut all lines, stopping where each line ends.

Shape 2

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